You've got it all mixed up. Believing most of the elements of the Apostles creed is essential to salvation I agree, once you remove the name of the church from it.. Didn't I read sometime back that you used to follow the teachings to Dr. Walter Martin? He was my Sunday school teacher in the 80's.
Did you miss the part in kingdom of cults about vain repetition and chanting? Of course I know the apostles creed by heart backwards and forwards and it was required by my employer to be recited once and signed. It was a loophole to prevent us from being forced to testify against the church in court. That was not the church I favored attending as I worked for a large television ministry but attended Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa at the time.
They simply replaced the word Catholic with Apostolic in the creed. And I sinned and swore an oath, to get a job. Even though I knew better. I feel I owe no allegiance to any church my allegiance is to Jesus alone. We do not have A Calvary Chapel in this part of the land so by default I align with the Salvation Army Corps. But attend a Methodist church for praise and worship and yet will not become a member. I belong to Jesus not a church and I will not lie and say I do.
Being able to recite an oath that someone we've never met wrote is not a sign of a circumcised heart. I feel reciting words are nearly meaningless to people that don't comprehend them. I've heard atheists' and Muslim's recite the lords or the serenity prayer without meaning a word of it. Without comprehension, words are meaning less confessing with our mouths is not enough, Believing in our hearts is the clause. I'm sure the Lord has a special place in his heart for the learning impaired as they are child like. I believe I was saved by grace. Not faith or works however that belief in saving grace accounts for my faith and after I received the love of the holy spirit it gave me a compassionate and forgiving heart. I want to help others and I'd rather talk and share about love and grace than works and laws. BECAUSE WORKS, & LAWS ARE THE DEVILS TRAPS. The only good works that can save us have already been done, on the cross. That's the most important works and by law the sin debt has been paid in blood. Love god with all heart, mind and soul and love our neighbor as we do ourselves Are our new commandments. In John the first command Jesus gave us is to love one another. Not the establishment!